Overview
Solarpunk drops players into a technically advanced world where civilization has spread across a network of floating islands high above the clouds. Developed by Cyberwave and published by rokaplay, the game blends survival mechanics with base-building and automation in a setting that feels genuinely distinct from the usual post-apocalyptic or fantasy fare. The world is clean, sun-drenched, and full of possibility, which makes the grind of resource gathering feel less punishing and more purposeful.
The core loop revolves around establishing yourself on an island, constructing buildings, and gradually expanding your operation. Harvesting resources, planting crops, and crafting gadgets feed into a larger goal: building an airship capable of reaching distant islands. Each new island brings fresh materials and challenges, giving exploration a real sense of reward rather than just padding out the map.
Gameplay and mechanics
Solarpunk's standout mechanical hook is its renewable energy system. Players harness sunlight, wind, and water to power their operations, and the automation possibilities that open up from this system are where the game gets genuinely interesting. Key mechanics include:
- Solar panels and wind turbines for power generation
- Automated resource gathering via powered machines
- Irrigation systems for crop watering
- Fish-catching automation near water sources
- Airship construction for island-to-island travel
Setting up an efficient energy grid feels like solving a puzzle. Getting the placement of your turbines right, routing power to your farm and crafting stations, then watching the whole system run without constant babysitting is the kind of satisfaction that survival games often promise but rarely deliver this cleanly.
Does Solarpunk support multiplayer?
Yes. Solarpunk supports co-op play for up to 4 players online, covering PC, PS5, and Xbox. The multiplayer integration is built into the core experience rather than bolted on as an afterthought. Building a shared base and dividing tasks between players makes the automation systems even more rewarding, since each person can specialize in different parts of the production chain. PS Plus is required for online play on PlayStation.
The game is also available on Xbox Game Pass with Play Anywhere support, meaning progress carries between Xbox console and PC for players on that platform.
World and setting
The floating island aesthetic gives Solarpunk a visual identity that stands apart in the survival crafting genre. The world feels optimistic without being naive about the effort involved in sustaining it. Structures grow from modest shelters into functioning eco-settlements, and the progression from a bare rock in the sky to a thriving community with automated farms and power grids tells its own story without cutscenes or dialogue.
Exploring distant islands by airship is the natural endpoint of each stage of progression. New islands carry new resources and biomes, keeping the survival loop fresh well past the early hours. The combination of island exploration, energy management, and cooperative building gives the game a rhythm that suits both short sessions and longer dedicated playthroughs on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as on consoles.